Air conditioner



Nov. 5, 1935. c REDHELD 2,019,583

AIR CONDITIONER Filed July 30, 1954.- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 23 25 I 4 24 (Z 5 2/ ,6 26

NOV. 5, 1935. Q REDFlELD 2,019,583

AIR CONDITIONER Filed July 50, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR RDF/ELD W W ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 5, 1935 I UNETED STATES PATENT: OFFICE 10 Claims.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means for conditioning air by refrigeration and also to circulate the air thru all parts of a room or enclosure.

The invention is a cooling unit adapted to be supported from the ceiling of a room or enclos ure, similar to a light fixture, or from the fioor, and comprises a plurality of extended surfaces with a refrigerant associated therewith and with air circulating means adapted to radially discharge air therefrom.

Air conditioning devices of this type generally comprise a fan and a cooling unit, but the fan generally blows air over the unit, and it is discharged in a comparatively straight stream, so that it is not circulated around the room or enclosure, and generally requires additional means to obtain eflicient circulation.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a refrigerating unit in combination with a fan, in which the fan draws air thru the unit and discharges it in a circular stream, thereby distributing it thruout a room or enclosure in which it may be installed.

Another object is to provide a cooling unit having a plurality of circular fins thru which a refrigerant may be passed by pipe coils, with means for drawing air into the center and discharging it thruout the periphery thereof.

A. further object is to provide an air conditioningunit having circular fins with means discharging air thruout a complete circle, which may be supported from the ceiling or from the fioor in a room or enclosure.

Anda still further object is to provide an air conditioning unit in combination wtih air circulating means thru said unit and thruout a room or enclosure which is of a simple and economical construction. I

With these ends in view the invention embodies a. plurality of extended surfaces, a refrigerant pipe coil extending thru said surfaces, a fan adapted to be rotated around said surfaces, a drip pan with a pump for discharging condensate, and motive power adapted to operate said fan.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear for mthe following description, taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view showing a room or enclosure with the device positioned therein.

Figure 2 is a view showing a side elevation of the device with part broken away.

Figure 3 is a plan view with parts-omitted and with parts broken away, showing a portion of the top of the casing, portion of the fins with the pipe coils running therethru, and a portion of the bottom plate or spider upon which the fan blades, are supported.

Figure 4 is a view showing an alternate design in which the air circulating means is operated by the latent energy of the refrigerant, and the device is inverted, showing it as it may be used ona pedestal, three quarter partition, or the like.

In the Figures 1, 2 and 3 the device is shown 10 as it may be made wherein numeral I indicates the fins, numeral 2 the fan blades, and numeral 3 the condensate pump.

The fins I are indicated by singlelines as they are comparatively thin, and these may be curved, 15 straight or corrugated, or reinforced in any manner; and they may also be provided with openingsother than the pipe coil openings thru which condensate may pass to the drip pan.

The fins I are preferably made of comparatively thin sheet metal of a circular shape and with gradually enlarging circular openings at their centers forming an opening 4 in the center, similar to the frustum of a cone. In the design shown these fins are circular, however, it will be 25 understood that they may be made of any shape and an opening of any design may be provided in the center. These fins are provided with a plurality of openings 5 thru which a continuous pipe coil 6 extends, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, 30 and one end of this coil is connected to an expansion valve 1 which is connected to a supply pipe 8, and the other end 9 of the coil extends upward thru a base III of the device, and this end may be connected to any suitable return or exhaust. The pipe coil 6 may be passed thru the fins in any manner, and may be provided with any connections to facilitate the construction. It is understood that a typical coil is shown in the drawings with all fittings and connections omitted. This coil is supported by brackets II from a cover .plate I2, and the cover plate is secured to a continuous fiange I 3 on arms I 4 extending from the base I0 by bolts I5, and it will be noted that with the bracket consisting of the base I0 and arms I4 held to a ceiling, or

the like, by'bolts I6, the unit supported by the brackets II with the cover I2 may beplaced over the lower part of the bracket and up against the {flange I3, to which it may be secured by the bolts 5 415. It will be understood, however, that the unit and cover plate may be attached to the ,cover or base by any other means. The fan @blades 2 are positioned around the fins I, and ,these are mounted upon a plate or spider I1,

which is mounted upon a hub 18 at the lower end of a spindle l9 extending downward from a motor 20, with the lower end of the spindle held in a bearing 2| at the lower end of the arms l4, and it will be noted that as the motor rotates, the blades 2 will be rotated about the fins I thru the member l1 and, with the blades correctly positioned, a current of air will be drawn thru the fins and discharged in the direction of the arrows 22, thereby discharging the air about the periphery of the device and forming a continuous circular stream'which will circulate thruout a room or enclosure in which the device may be installed,

as indicated by the arrows shown in Figure 1.

In the design shown, a motor 20 is attached to the base I and in this arrangement itis suspended from the base, however, it will be understood that any means may be providedfor mounting the motor, and this may be attached to the base or any part, thereof, or suspended in any manner.

Below the fins l and coil 6 is a drip pan 23, which may be attached to the coil by clips 24, or by any means, and it will be noted that this pan slopes downward toward a trough 25 at the center, and this trough is connected to the pump 3 on the motor spindle l9 thru a connection 26. The pump 3 is provided with a discharge connection 21 that extends upward thru the base In, and this may extend to any point from which the drip or condensate may be discharged. The drip pan is positioned under the coil and fins so that moisture condensed from the air passing thru the fins will accumulate in this pan and will be discharged to a remote point. It will be understood that any other means may be used for taking care of this condensate, and it may be conveyed to a remote point by any means.

The fan blades 2 are preferably made straight, as shown in Figure 3, however, these may be made of any shape, and any means may be provided for mounting them on the lower end of a motor spindle. The motor may also be positioned at any other point and may be connected to the blades by any means. The member I! is shown in a conical shape, however, it will be noted that this may be fiat, curved, or formed in any manner. The fan blades are mounted on the outer edge thereof and may be soldered in place, or attached thereto or made integral therewith, as may be desired. It is preferred to use a ring 28 connecting the upper ends of the blades, however, it will be understood that this In this design the engine 29 is supported upon a stand 30 having a base 3| that may rest upon the upper end of a pedestal or stand 32, or on a partition of the type that terminates short of the ceiling, however, it will understood that the stand 30 may be of any type or design, may

be supported in any manner, and the engine 29 may be supported from a hanging bracket similar to that shown in Figure 2, or in any manner. In this design the spider I1 is replaced by a continuous plate 33 forming a cover, with fan blades 34, similar to the blades 2, extending downward therefrom, and the lower ends of the blades are connected by a continuous ring 35, or by any means. The member 33 is supported on the upper end of a shaft 36 extending upward from the engine 29, and it will be notedthat this will be rotated by the engine. A shell 31 forming the base also forms a drip pan below the device with a circular trough 38 extending around the inner 5 part thereof, and this may be provided with a connection 39, which will convey the drip to any point desired by gravity. This connection may, however, be connected to any means for disposing of the drip or condensate, or for pumping the drip or condensate to any point. In this design the horizontal fins l are replaced by vertically positioned plates 30, and the coil 6 is replaced by a coil 4|, which extends thru the plates, as shown. The upper or supply end of the coil is connected to the exhaust of the engine 29 by a pipe 42, and the lower or suction end of a coil is connected by a pipe 43 to the suction line of a compressor or to any means for withdrawing the refrigerant. The refrigerant may be supplied thru a pipe 44, which is connected to the engine 29, and it will be noted that the engine may be of any type or design, or any combination of mechanical devices may be-provided for utilizing the latent energy of the refrigerant and converting it into work producing means for operating the air circulating means. Air may bedrawn in thru the lower part of the stand below the base 31 as indicated by the arrows and this may be covered with a grille or screen 45, which may be of any type. The air will be drawn thru the plates and radially discharged thruout the periphery of the unit, thereby circulating the air in the same manner as in I the design shown in Figure 2. It will be understood that other changes may be made in the construction Without departing from the spirit of the invention. One of which changes may be in the use of other means for applying a refrigerant to the fins, another may be in the use of a fan of any other type, and still another may be in the use of other means for mounting a fan in relation to the cooling unit. It will be understood that any refrigerant may be circulated thru the coils to. produce. the re- 45 frigerating effect. Some common refrigerants which may be used are methyl chloride, sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide, Freon or any other gas used as a refrigerant or any other medium which at any time may be introduced into the industry. It will be understood that a refrigerated brine may be used by the omission of the expansion valve. This brine may be a solution of sodium chloride, glycerine, alcohol or any other brine found desirable, or sweet water, refrigerated in any way. The use of the term refrigerant" is understood to mean any refrigerating medium. It will also be understood that the device may .be used as independently as a fan to circulate air in a room or enclosure, without having the refrigerant pass thru the coils when cooling is not desired.

The construction will readily be understood from the foregoing description. In use the device may be provided as a complete unit and installed by attaching the base I0 or the base 3| to the ceiling of a room, or to any device from the floor, or to any member or part of a room or enclosure which will permit a comparatively free circulation of air from the device around the room. In the design, assown in Figure 2, the refrigerating fluid inlet and outlet pipes and the condensate pipe, as well as the electrical connection for the motor extend upward thru the base, and these may extend to any point or may be connected to any means for supplying the fluid or taking care of the discharge or exhaust. The

electrical connection for the motor may also extend to a wall'switch and to any source of supply of electric current.

The device may be mounted on the base and the base attached to the ceiling or other surface, and it will be noted that similar devices may be placed in different rooms'in a building and all connected to a common switch board, or each may be provided with independent connections so that each may be turned on or off, as may be desired. It will be noted that when the motor is started and with a refrigerating fluid passing thru the coil, the temperature of the fins will be reduced materially and these, in turn, will extract heat units from air passing therethru, so that the air will give up its heat and the temperature thereof will be materially reduced. This device draws air in thru the center, preferably from the lower side, and this air, after being cooled, is discharged around the periphery and, as the fan will impart considerable velocity thereto, this air will continue to circulate around a room, as shown in Figure 1, and as it passes by windows or exterior openings, it would draw air in from the outside, thereby maintaining a continuous supply of fresh air with complete circulation. Discharging air outward from a central point adjacent the ceiling of a room or enclosure creates ideal circulation, as the air passesoutward in every direction, and down the walls, and is drawn up again to the center of the room or enclosure, thereby keeping all air in the room in complete circulation at all times.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An air conditioner comprising a cooling means including superposed annular fins having a centrally disposed air intake opening, a plurality of circumferentially arranged fan blades extending outwardly of the peripheral edges of said fins for drawing air through said fins and past said cooling means and forcing air outwardly in a plane coplanar with said fins, and operating means for said blades.

2. An air conditioner comprising a cooling coil, a plurality of superposed annular fins having a centrally disposed air intake opening, said coil being threaded through said fins about said opening, and means for drawing air through said inpast said cooling means and forcing air outwardly of said fins and in alinement with the opposite faces thereof, a centrally disposed operating means for said blades, and a web connecting said operating means with said blades.

4. An air conditioner comprising a cooling means including superposed annular fins having a centrally disposed air intake opening, a plurality of circumferentially arranged fan blades extending outwardly of the peripheral edges of said fins for drawing air through said fins and 5 posed below said fins for collecting condensate.

5. An air conditioner comprising a cooling means including superposed annular fins having a centrally disposed air intake opening, a plurality of circumferentially arranged fan blades 15 extending outwardly of the peripheral edges of said fins for drawing air through said fins, acentrally disposed operating means for said blades, a web below said fins connecting said operating means with said blades, and means disposed be- 20 tween said web and said fins for collecting con-, densate.

6. An air conditioner comprising a cooling means including superposed annular fins having a centrally disposed air intake opening, a plural- 25 ity of circumferentially arranged fan blades extending outwardly of the peripheral edges of said fins for drawing air through said fins, an operating means for said blades, a web below said fins connecting said operating means with said blades, 30 a condensate collecting pan disposed between said web and said fins, and means for supporting said pan from said cooling means.

7. An air conditioner comprising a cooling coil,

a plurality of superposed annular fins having a 5 centrally disposed air intake opening, said coil being threaded back and forth through said fins, and means for drawing air through said intake opening and past said coil and discharging the air radially in all directions about the periphery 40 of said fins.

8. An air conditioner comprising a plurality of superposed annular fins having a centrally disposed air intake opening, a cooling coil threaded back and forth through said fins about said opening, means for forcing air through said opening between said fins, and means for collecting the condensate from said fins.

9. An air conditioner comprising a pluralityoi' fins disposed in spaced apart relation, a cooling coil threaded back and forth through said fins, said fins having axially alined air openings, and means for drawing air through said openings and in the space between the fins and discharging the air outwardly of the marginal edges of the fins.

10. An air conditioner comprising a cooling means including a plurality of spaced apart fins having a centrally disposed air intake opening,

, a plurality of fan blades arranged at the marginal 50 edges of the fins for drawing air through said fins and past said cooling means and forcing air outwardly in a plane coplanar with said fins, and operating means for said blades.

CLARKE REDFIELD. 

